Bronx, NY- Reverend Al Sharpton endorsed Bronx State Senate Candidate Gustavo Rivera today, the latest in a series of endorsements in the momentous campaign to defeat Pedro Espada.
"I endorse Gustavo Rivera," said Reverend Al Sharpton, who has known Gustavo for seven years and worked with him on unemployment, health, and tenants rights issues. "I have always fought for victims whether its police brutality, immigration, or poverty. Gustavo has been there with me in this fight."
"Al Sharpton has been fighting for issues that are important to the people of the Northwest Bronx. He is someone who understands the needs of a community and will not rest until those needs are met. I plan to bring this same attitude to Albany and fight for the issues facing the 33rd district. I am honored to have the support of such a significant figure," said Gustavo Rivera.
"The community needs someone who has the heart of the people and is practical enough to fight in Albany. Rivera has a balance of both and I intend to campaign with him. Pedro Espada can feed the people but he cannot deliver loaves back to the community. Gustavo Rivera can go and deliver and he has earned the respect in Albany. He has been in the trenches with me and I plan to campaign and fight in the trenches with him," added Sharpton.
Today's endorsement is the latest in a string of high profile endorsements for the surging Rivera campaign. Newspapers that endorsed Rivera include: El Diario and the Daily News. Elected officials backing Rivera include: Bronx Borough President Reuben Diaz Jr, Former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer; City Comptroller John Liu, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Former Mayor Ed Koch, Bronx Council Members: Fernando Cabrera, Oliver Koppell, Annabel Palma; Borough President Scott Stringer; Senators: Liz Krueger, Eric Schneiderman; Assembly Members: Adriano Espaillat, Daniel O'Donnell; and Council Members: Margaret Chin, Daniel Dromm, Daniel Garodnick, Robert Jackson, Brad Lander, Jessica Lappin, Melissa Mark-Viverito and Jumaane Williams. Democratic clubs endorsing Rivera include: 504 Democratic Club, Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club, Jim Owles Democratic Club and Stonewall Democratic Club. Progressive groups that endorsed Rivera include New Roosevelt Initiative and Working Families Party. Labor unions that endorsed Rivera include AFL-CIO, 1199 SEIU, SEIU 32BJ, The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, the Transport Workers Union of America, Communication Workers of America Local 1180, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500, Freelancers Union, Hotel and Motel Trades Council and Organization of Staff Analysts.
